Allegiances 4 – Tell's Choice
by HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope

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Title   Tell's Choice
Mission   Allegiances 4
Author(s)   HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope
Posted   Mon Aug 15, 2011 @ 2:20am
Location   FHew engine room
The crew were all off partying, even Ro'. Tell was taking the chance to try and fix the damn light in the hold... again! She checked the line feed, interference, breakers, vacuum seal, power levels and globe integrity; all well within tolerance. she stepped to the wall and pushed the switch.

The light came on, flickered, and then went out with a bright blue spark. Tell said something very graphic.

A voice she didn't recognise spoke from the cargo bay outer door, "I can see you have developed an excellent grasp of our language, Soghla'."

Tell turned to see a young Klingon wearing the sash of a High Council member and the badge of House Matlh, "We have not been introduced yet. I am CoQ, Head of House Matlh, and you are Teresa Hope, formerly of the SS Cygnet, now Chief Engineer and First officer of one of the most famous ships in the KDF."

"I couldn't care less who you are. You could be the bloody King of Flanidia 5 for all I know. What the hell has it got to do with you who I am anyway." She spat at him "I am not in the mood for polite conversation. Or can't you tell." She mumbled something and put down her instruments she was using carefully. Even if the ship fought against her at times she never took it out on her tools.

"They call me the XO but I am just the bloody engineer who fixes things and called upon when things go wrong." She moaned and picked up another tool. She prepared again to do battle with the forces that threaten to overthrow the systems on the FHew.

"Don't downgrade yourself, what do they call you? Told?"

Before he could react, the smallest angry engineer he had ever seen forced him up against the bulkhead. "Listen my Klingon friend. I have had more Klingon's for breakfast than you have had hot dinners. You want to talk then show me the decency of getting my name right." With a final push she let go of him.

CoQ let the challenge inherent in her attack go. She was human, and would not understand the severity of her mistake. Even Ro' would not have dared to take such liberties.

"Yes, forgive me, Tell," he smiled. "I must say I have been following your progress with some interest. I am glad to find you alone. I was hoping to have a quiet discussion with you. However, what I am about to tell you cannot be discussed with anyone else, especially not Ro'. Have you a moment?"

She was two steps away from him hoping to return to the dammed light. She sighed impatiently and turned. "Well it looks like I have now." she snapped "What's on your mind? This had better be quick."

"The thing is that House Matlh only has three of these old birds left, and you can see the state most of them are in. We don't have the resources, or the will, to maintain ships older than either of us. So I intend to retire them. Of course this will not sit well with Uncle Ro', and I have no intention of embarrassing him by ordering him off his ship. I was hoping you might be able to help me."

Tell snorted with laughter. "If your thinking that he might listen to me? Your wrong and you would be wise to know that, if you value your life CoQ. He's not one to cross or suffer fools lightly. If you want my advice, and clearly you don't, forget it."

CoQ continued, bitting his tongue, "Some time in the near future, I would like you to set up some sort of critical, but not catastrophic failure. Wiping of the Mainframe, de-ionisation of the injectors, polarisation of the navigational deflectors; something that will not blow the ship up, but will effectively make it unusable. When it is towed home I can decommission it and promote Ro' to Military advisor for all of House Matlh."

"And where does that leave me?" She asked curious as to what CoQ had in mind.

"And you... well, obviously I still have a few other ships I wish taken off my hands. How would you like your own ship?"

Tell looked at him with more than a look of contempt and then turned to her instruments. "Your playing a dangerous game Klingon." Tell told him as she prepared to go back to work. She had other plans for herself in the future and it didn't include the person standing next to her. She wouldn't be beholding to anyone but her self. "You've got the wrong person. Now get out of my hold."

Tell suddenly found herself flat on her face with CoQ's knee in her back and knife at her throat, "Do not misunderstand me human. You are granted much leniency for the trust my Uncle has placed in you, but I am in charge of House Matlh. This ship, and everyone on it is MINE. You serve only as long as I say. I will not be disrespected!"

Tell lay there fuming and unable to move. He temper had once more got the better of her and landed her in trouble once again. She lay still, not uttering a sound. She would have her revenge one day.

He hissed venom, "If I were to slit your throat and leave you to bleed out, no one would challenge my right. It is a more dangerous game you are in than you can possibly imagine, so do not think to lecture me. One way or another I will see my uncle honoured, and if you stand in my way I will destroy you without hesitation. Do I make myself VERY clear?"

"Crystal." Was the only word she could get out.

The pressure was released and CoQ strode out of the airlock, a thunder cloud of anger.